New Delhi, Mar 17 (IANS): With 12 new cases of novel coronavirus infectins reported in India on Tuesday, the number of COVID-19 patients in India climbed to 126, up from 114 a day earlier, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

The Ministry said that the infected patients included 104 Indians and 22 foreigners.

According to ministry officials, seven new cases were reported in Maharashtra, two in Karnataka, one each in Kerala and Telangana, and one in Odisha.

Till date, three Indians have succumbed to the deadly virus -- with one death each reported from Delhi, Kalaburgi in Karnataka and Mumbai in Maharashtra.

As per Ministry statistics, Maharashtra reported 36 cases, including three foreigners, and Kerala 22.

Uttar Pradesh reported 12 Covid-19 cases, Karnataka eight, Delhi seven and Telangana four.

Union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir reported four and two cases respectively. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand have one positive case each.

The government on Tuesday suggested closure of all schools, colleges, universities, gymnasiums, museums, cultural and social centres, swimming pools and theatres till March 31. Many states, including Maharashtra, have already closed educational institutions.